Chapter 35: Let’s Go to the supermarket.

Chapter 35

Yu Na was still grading homework in her office when her phone lit up beside her. She caught a glimpse of the "1" out of the corner of her eye. Ever since she had changed Xiao Chen's contact name to "1", she had become extremely sensitive to seeing that number. Her heart would quiver involuntarily whenever she saw it.

She put her pen down and picked up her phone.

1: [Do you want to eat hot pot?]

"...?" She wondered about his intentions. Was he taking the initiative to invite her to dinner?

She bit her lower lip and replied: [I'd like that.]

1: [Qiao Rui said to invite you over to my house to eat hot pot tonight, to thank you.]

"..." Of course it wasn't his idea.

Yu Na pouted, dissatisfied with his words but unable to find any flaws. It would be strange if he had invited her himself.

When he didn't receive a reply for quite some time, he sent another message: [Or would you rather eat out somewhere?]

Yu Na came to her senses and quickly responded: [At your house~~ The smell from hot pot restaurants is too strong.]

1: [Okay, where are you? I'll come pick you up.]

Yu Na: [I'm still at school, come get me here.]

1: [ok]

Xiao Chen's house wasn't far from the school. He drove over and it didn't take long.

Over the past couple days, Yu Na had been preoccupied with the school sports festival, and hadn't finished grading homework. She didn't want to come to school over the weekend either, so she was planning to grade at home with a stack of assignments.

She hustled down the stairs with her bag on her back and a pile of homework cradled in her arms.

Xiao Chen was waiting for her in the parking lot.

Yu Na opened the passenger door and climbed in. She saw him casually leaning back in his seat, catching a quick nap. Hearing her movements, he opened his eyes.

He first noticed what was in her arms and asked, "What's that?" Rread latest chapters at novelhall.comework I need to grade."

He unexpectedly remarked, "Working so hard?"

"I haven't finished grading them."

The stack of homework rested on Yu Na's lap. One hand shielded it protectively while the other fidgeted with her bag strap.

Qiao Rui: [Bro, my friends invited me out to dinner [pleading face]]

Xiao Chen: [No, you said we were having hot pot. And the teacher is coming over too.]

Qiao Rui: [???]

Qiao Rui: [That was your idea! I'm being detained against my will here!]

Xiao Chen: [No]

Qiao Rui: [Please, if I leave you two alone won't that give you some private time? This third wheel is begging to flee!]

Xiao Chen: [Piss off, stay home and wait.]

Qiao Rui: [If you won't let me go, then I'll tell Teacher Yu later that this dinner was all your idea!]

Xiao Chen: [You're welcome to try.]

Feeling his threat lacked impact, he tacked an especially lethal death glare onto the end of his message.

Yu Na walked over holding hot pot soup base mix and asked him, "Do you have any at home already?"

Xiao Chen hastily put his phone away at the sound of her voice. "Hm?"

"...What's up?" Yu Na was amused by his flustered reaction.

"Oh, nothing." Unconcerned with flavor or brand, Xiao Chen took the soup base from her and tossed it straight into the cart, answering, "One of Qiao Rui's friends contacted him about going out to eat."

Hearing this, Yu Na was elated. She probed cautiously, "So what does Qiao Rui want to do...?"

"I told him he can't go."

"...I see." Yu Na pressed her lips together, giving him an assessing side-eye. After some hesitation she donned her open-minded teacher persona and gently advised, "You actually shouldn't stop him."

Xiao Chen: ?

Out of self-interest, Yu Na quietly added, "Kids that age are very rebellious. The more you restrict them, the less they'll listen."

"..."

Xiao Chen walked over to her. "What's that supposed to mean? It was his idea to invite you for a meal in the first place."

"I don't really care. We already know each other anyway."

The subtext couldn't be more obvious. Now to see if the man beside her might finally catch a hint for once, making her happy.